Sustainability has become one of the workhorses of tourism promotion, ready to intercept a new form of demand that respects not only the natural environment, but also the cultures and territories visited as a fundamental principle.
Over time the concept of “sustainability” has evolved and gained greater depth, encompassing a whole range of activities capable of connecting the visitor more deeply to a destination. In Italy sustainable tourism is a valuable key for opening doors to new markets. The future has already begun and there is no shortage of examples.
Starting with the investments made in slow and widespread tourism by the Campania Region, which has led to the upgrading of the Appia and Francigena routes and the development of the regional Cammini network, involving 69 municipalities and wuth the support of €10 million. Not to mention the artisan and agri-food supply chains: today Campania is second in the south of Italy for DOP, IGP and STG appellations, fourth for starred restaurants, and has recorded a 23% growth in agritourism, especially in the Salerno area.
Transport is also of fundamental importance for the development of sustainable projects as Lazio has shown by recently launching the “Gran Tour del Lazio”, a ring-route cycle itinerary of over 100 kilometres, divided into 18 stages or thematic routes, each of which begins and ends at a railway station thus promoting train-bicycle intermodality. Over the next two years FIAB will carry out work financed with a regional contribution to make the route operational.
Campania and Lazio: two small examples, drops in an ocean of opportunities ready to be harnessed to channel tourist flows intelligently, sustainably, and profitably.
